OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Sixty National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s & women’s basketball student-athletes were nominated on Friday for the 2014-15 Senior CLASS Award and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s (UMES) Ishaq Pitt (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Shawnee Sweeney were selected candidates. Both, Pitt and Sweeney, have excelled on and off the court during their tenure as Hawks.

Pitt has demonstrated leadership and high character while earning many academic honors over his collegiate career. The Brooklyn-native has been very active and involved in the local community on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, particularly in Princess Anne, such as UMES Cares Day, UMES Street Sweep and Relay for Life. This season, Ishaq leads the Hawks in assists-per-game (3.6), including a career-high nine assists in the win over Savannah State.

Sweeney has built a positive reputation with her classmates, the faculty/staff and the student body. Furthermore, Shawnee has excelled in the classroom with a 3.7 grade-point average (GPA). The Virginia-product has been active off the court by serving in the community and participating in events, such as the Stop the Violence-Start the Garden project, Relay for Life and Strike Out Hunger campaign. On the court, she is on pace to become the program’s all-time 3-point leader.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Men’s Final Four and NCAA Women’s Final Four. To view the complete list of candidates, please Click Here.